Evaluating Laryngopharyngeal Tumor Extension Using Narrow Band Imaging Versus Conventional White Light Imaging

Objective/Hypothesis Comparing detection and extension of malignant tumors by flexible laryngoscopy in the outpatient setting with laryngoscopy under general anesthesia using both White Light Imaging (WLI) and Narrow Band Imaging (NBI). Study Design Prospective study. Methods Two hundred and thirty‐three patients with laryngeal and pharyngeal lesions underwent flexible and rigid laryngoscopy, with both WLI and NBI. Extension of malignant lesions (n = 132) was compared between both techniques in detail. Results Sensitivity of NBI during flexible endoscopy (92%), was comparable with that of WLI during rigid endoscopy (91%). The correlation of tumor extension between flexible and rigid laryngoscopy was high (rs = 0.852–0.893). The observed tumor extension was significantly larger when using NBI in both settings. The use of NBI during flexible laryngoscopy leads to upstaging (12%) and downstaging (2%) of the T classification. Conclusions NBI during flexible laryngoscopy could be an alternative to WLI rigid endoscopy. NBI improves visualization of tumor extension and accuracy of T staging. Level of Evidence 3 Laryngoscope, 131:E2222–E2231, 2021